četvrtak, 31. prosinca 2009.

Real Madrid director general Jorge Valdano and football director Miguel Pardeza will be in Valdebebas today for the team’s final training session of 2009.

According to Spanish paper AS, Valdano’s visit will be to wish all the players and the staff a happy New Year’s day, but most of all to reveal the club’s plans for the January transfer window.

It is suggested that the Argentine will tell the squad that the club board has no intention of making any new signings next month.

Valdano’s reassurances will be particularly aimed towards Raul Albiol, Christoph Metzelder and Ezequiel Garay, the three centre-backs that will be in contention to fill the void left by Portuguese international Pepe who will be out for the remainder of the season after suffering knee ligament damage.

Valdano is also expected to enquire after the recovery schedule of injured trio Kaka, Guti and Ruud van Nistelrooy.

srijeda, 30. prosinca 2009.

Real Madrid talisman Cristiano Ronaldo has set his sights on recapturing the Ballon d'Or in 2010 and declared that he wants to go down as the greatest player in history.

Ronaldo relinquished the crown he won in 2008 to Barcelona star Lionel Messi, who also took over the title of FIFA World Player of the Year in 2009 but the Portuguese winger has his sights firmly set on returning to being recognised as the best footballer on the planet.

"I'm going to win the Ballon d'Or back, this year or next," he declared as quoted by Marca.

"I have an ambition to become the best player in history."

The 24-year-old also declared that his troublesome ankle, which kept him out of action for two months, is in good shape and will not require surgery.

"The ankle is fine and if not the Real Madrid doctors will see it right. I am sure I will not need an operation," he noted.

The verbal agreement between Bundesliga heavyweights Bayern Munich and La Liga giants Real Madrid for next summer's transfer of French midfielder Franck Ribery was reported yesterday by Europolitan.de.

But today a report has come out of Ran.de that has outlined more details about the deal, lifting the lid on talks which have apparently been in the pipeline for some time already.

According to the German website, Dutch winger Arjen Robben's transfer to Bayern served as an initial deposit, locking Ribery in for a transfer exclusively to the Santiago Bernabeu. As such, Madrid has already paid half of the estimated €50 million that the French attacker will cost them in total.

The verbal agreement also apparently holds two caveats. The first clause is the aforementioned first refusal for Madrid. The second is that if Ribery decides to stay at Bayern and extend his contract, then Bayern will have to pay Madrid the €25 million they have still not handed over for Robben's transfer along, with a year's interest added to the fee.

Real Madrid's morning training on Wednesday had a surprise in store as Dutch midfielder Rafael Van der Vaart trained alongside the players who are recovering from injuries and training separately from the rest of the squad. He joined in with Kaka, Guti, and Ruud Van Nistelrooy instead of the main bunch, but the extent or diagnosis of the Dutchman's injury remains unknown.

As for the rest of the team, a large number of players rejoined their companions as Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Alvaro Arbeloa, Gonzalo Higuain and Fernando Gago returned from their holidays in time for the afternoon training session. As such, coach Manuel Pellegrini is now counting on his entire squad, save for Mahamadou Diarra, who is training with the Malian national team for the African Cup of Nations, and long-term injury victim Pepe.

The Madrid coach also called a number of youth players up from the ranks to work with the first team. Today, that group was comprised of Szalai, Vazquez, Raul Ruiz, Modrego and Juanan.

Real Madrid defender Alvaro Arbeloa has told Spanish press and the club's fans that they are now ready to kick on after an impressive first half of the season with their new 'Galacticos', reports AS.

"The team needed time, but now after some patience and good work, we are progressively improving," declared the former Liverpool player.

As for his switch of position from right back to Madrid's regular left back, Arbeloa says he "becomes more comfortable with every match on the left. I will continue on the left even in light of Pepe's injury because, fortunately, we have three very good central defenders and Sergio Ramos can also play the position. I hope to keep playing wherever I am needed."

Arbeloa also expressed his belief that the team can win at least one title at the end of the season. "We have taken a step forward, we are improving a lot, we are scoring a lot, we are creating a number of chances, and we have options to win something. It will be difficult, but we have the potential to do it and we have to fight to be there at the end."

Finally, Arbeloa rubbished the notion that there was concern over some Barcelona's players having curtailed their winter vacations to return to training early.

"I do not know if Barca will slow down; what they have done, no one has ever done, but in the year that comes we will make them push even harder.

"We have a difficult month of January, but we do not have the Copa del Rey so we will be able to rest in the middle of the week. We hope that the Copa stretches Barca and we will have to take advantage of any slip-ups."

Fernando Gago appears to have no future at Real Madrid, and Juventus could be set to offer him an escape.

According to Il Corriere dello Sport, the Bianconeri are keen to snare Gago during the winter transfer window. The fact that the midfielder has big game experience and is an Argentine international are said to count in his favour.

Ideally, Juve would like to loan Gago, pay half his transfer fee, and include an option for full purchase at the end of the season.

Fiorentina and Everton have also expressed an interest in Gago, although his preference remains to stay at the Bernabeu and win Manuel Pellegrini's favour. However, with the World Cup approaching, he knows that securing regular football is a priority.

Gago's agent had earlier spoken about his situation, saying, "He wants regular playing time ahead of the World Cup."

Much is made of the exceptional quality of Barcelona's youth team products such as Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta, Xavi Hernandez, Carles Puyol, Gerard Pique, Sergi Busquets, Bojan Krkic, Pedro Rodriguez, Jeffren Suarez, etc., but in a report by Madrid sports daily AS, the Real Madrid youth program is also ranked as one of the world's best with 107 former youth players playing in Europe (51 in La Primera, 43 in La Segunda, and 13 in eight other countries on the continent).

Real Madrid have five players who have come up through the ranks in Raul, Iker Casillas, Esteban Granero, Guti, and Alvaro Arbeloa (seven including third goalkeeper Adan and the injured De la Red). Somewhat paradoxically, one can find even more youth players in south Madrid as Getafe have employed a number of youth team players as well as coaches.

In terms of coaches, Los Azulones have had Quique, Schuster, Laudrup, and Michel giving orders while on the pitch one can find Belenguer, Casquero, Adrian, Soldado, Miguel Torres, Dani Parejo, and Jordi Codina in the Getafe ranks.

In La Segunda, Rayo Vallecano is the club with the most players with Blanco pasts as Cobeno, Tena, Aganzo, Quero, Movilla, and Rafa Garcia carry the Madrid name.

Internationally, in the world's principal leagues, the Merengue presence is also noted in such players as Jordi Lopez in the Premier League, Schorch in the Bundesliga, Samuel Eto'o and Esteban Cambiasso in the Serie A, Javi Garcia and Balboa in Portugal, and Gonzalo and Groningen in Holland.

utorak, 29. prosinca 2009.

In an interview with sports daily Correio da Manha, Cristiano Ronaldo revealed his great ambition of winning titles with Real Madrid, expressing that his principal desire was to "face Barca in the Champions League final and to beat them".

With respect to the rest of the season, Ronaldo was hopeful that he would be able to avoid the medical ward.

"I hope not to have any more injuries and to be able to help Real Madrid win all the titles for which we are competing this season.

Furthermore, 'CR9' remained sure of Los Blancos' progression over the past few months stating, "I have complete confidence that we are going to improve even more in what is left of the season."

Fifty million euros. Such is the figure upon which Bayern Munich and Real Madrid have agreed for the transfer of Franck Ribery next summer.

According to the web-page of Munich Europolitan.de, both clubs have reached a verbal agreement for the transfer.

Although the English press continues to report that Chelsea is closer to securing the French midfielder's signature, the report seems to align with Ribery's rumoured desires, as the Frenchman has previously shown his penchant to play at Real Madrid.

Bayern president Uli Hoeness has previously stated that should Bayern not reach a deal to renew Ribery's contract, they would sell their player since in 2011 the Frenchman would have license to walk away without a transfer fee.

The Karim Benzema who returned to training yesterday with Real Madrid after enjoying his Christmas holiday is a footballer full of hope and ambition.

As reported by AS, the Frenchman has matured from an introvert into a good humoured, ultra-motivated player and has confessed that he "is ready for the great challenges that await in 2010".

In his first few months in his new Spanish life, Benzema had some difficult moments of solitude, principally because he was unable to express himself in Spanish. But the 22-year-old has no doubt that he will succeed and that the worst has passed. "Now I can communicate with all of my team-mates. I can understand Spanish and I also understand the direction given to me by the coach," said the Frenchman.

Benzema is currently third in Real Madrid's scoring charts with six goals (five in La Liga and one against Milan in the Champions League). Gonzalo Higuain is second with 12 goals in all competitions, whilst Cristiano Ronaldo leads with 13 goals.

Real Madrid central defender Christoph Metzelder gave a press conference after Real Madrid's second training session back from their Christmas break, and admitted that his future at the club beyond this season does not look good.

"One has to be realistic; I do not think Madrid will renew my contract," confessed the German. "I have lived two and a half years here and I do not think that it is appropriate for me to speak, not now and not in the months that come, of my situation with the club".

The central defender also joked about the series of automobile accidents suffered by Karim Benzema, saying "I would get into a car with Karim, but I might tell him to ease up just a bit."

Metzelder has only played in one Liga match and one Copa del Rey fixture (the 4-0 drubbing to Alcorcon) and he emphasises that it was the coach that made such decisions. "I am a professional 100% of the time and I will work until the end. I need to defend this team and the image of the club."

Metzelder's contract at the Santiago Bernabeu is due to expire at the end of June 2010.

Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour and Real Madrid have moved to quell the speculation surrounding a £1 billion takeover of the Blancos.

Reports in the Spanish media claimed that the Sheikh was considering a bid to buy out the Madrid-based club and erase its mounting debts. It was consequently said that the billionaire was set to meet Real president Florentino Perez early in the New Year with the idea of placing a bid.

However, both parties have moved to pour cold water on any such speculation.

A source close to the Sheikh allegedly told WAM that the rumours are "unfounded and totally lacking in credibility".

Meanwhile, the La Liga club issued a statement, saying: "The president of Real Madrid, Florentino Perez has had a great friendship for many years with His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan."

"It is not true there is alleged interest or an existence of any offer to purchase Real Madrid - for which His Highness has always shown great respect for, being well acquainted that Real Madrid is a club owned by its members."

ponedjeljak, 28. prosinca 2009.

I have been reading about this debate on every football site I have visited ever since Marca released a statement saying that C.Ronaldo is more complete player than Messi. Every football fan has a personal opinion on this topic and this debate won’t end until they both retire or one truly shows that he is better than the other. There are just too many factors to consider and while one player may be regarded as the best by one fan, another supporter will invariably disagree.

While Marca’s statement is no surprise, the results of the ten categories analysed was: Ronaldo didn’t only beat Messi in six departments, but the Argentine only dominated a measly two categories, leaving the other two in a tie. I will try to evaluate both players through the given categories and even supply you with some videos from YouTube that will help you make up you mind.

COLLECTIVE GAME

Marca:• Messi 8• Cristiano Ronaldo 7

A hard category to judge any player, especially two very individual players who are idolized because of their game winning moves and not their work-rate. But it’s not a big surprise to see results like this. Ronaldo has been panned for being arrogant, self-centered and too individualistic because he wants to do everything by himself and earn all the applause for himself, but those are the qualities of born winners who want to be in the spotlight when it matters the most. To be fair, Ronaldo has become more of a team player since his move to Madrid, playing one-twos and sometimes even looking for his teammates who are in better position to shot.Messi, on the other hand, although possesses world class dribbling skills , does rely on teamwork, often playing one-twos with his teammates, or drawing out defenders off the ball for his colleagues to run into space. He is also a quite player often rather staying in the shadow rather than getting all the glory for himself, which is definitively commendable, but is something that often separates great players from best ever (you can ask that Maradona anytime).

My verdict:• Messi 7• Cristiano Ronaldo 5

Conclusion:

Neither of these players deserve a bigger score because if you compare them to Zanneti, Diarra or Xavi they aren’t much of a collective players, but more of a individuals. This is an example of how a collective player plays:

INDIVIDUAL TECHNIQUE

Marca:• Cristiano Ronaldo 9• Messi 9

There’s no doubting that both players have outstanding technique, whether it’s ball control, dribbling, shooting, or even showboating. This was perhaps the one category that’s the most difficult to split the two and there’s nothing to indicate, performance-wise, that one player has better technique than the other.

My verdict:• Cristiano Ronaldo 9• Messi 9

Conclusion:

Even though their technique is outstanding, it is nowhere near Zidane, so I’m giving them both of them a 9. Let’s remember once more how Zizou did it:

PHYSICALITY

Marca:• Cristiano Ronaldo 10• Messi 7

Cristiano is clearly much taller, stronger, muscular and robust, although some would poke fun at him for going to ground more often than he should. Ronaldo uses his attributes very well, is it for running past the defenders or out-jumping them, he just has what it takes to beat anyone who stands in his way.Messi has shown, however, that size really doesn’t matter. The Argentine has been known to use his low centre of gravity giving him a massive advantage when he’s running with the ball and squeezing past opponents. And despite being just 1.69 meters tall, the Argentine tries to stay on his feet as long as possible and keep charging forward even when defenders are attempting to hack him down. The only thing that he is missing is aerial ability, because he can’t really outjump a 2.00 meters tall defender.

My verdict:• Cristiano Ronaldo 10• Messi 9

Conclusion:

Despite being so small, Messi manages to use that to his advantage so I’m giving him a high score. Ronaldo has everything what a modern footballer should have and deserves the highest score possible.

PACE

Marca:• Cristiano Ronaldo 9• Messi 8

Another difficult category to separate as both players are incredibly quick, have tremendous bursts of speed and excellent balance when making sharp changes in direction. Of course, we will never know conclusively who is the fastest until they go head to head in a foot race.Messi’s gift is his immaculate close control of the ball when he’s on his familiar marauding sprints. The Barca prodigy also has a very distinguishable way of running, taking quick-fire small, shuffling steps. In contrast, Ronaldo uses his long legs to take big steps and stride forward like a gazelle, not unlike his good friend Usain Bolt. But the Portuguese is more recognized for his pace for the simple reason that he uses his raw speed to take on and beat defenders, while Messi relies more on his close control and dribbling skills.

My verdict:• Cristiano Ronaldo 10• Messi 8

Conclusion:

A recent study has shown that Ronaldo is currently the fastest player in the world. He may not be the fastest person on the planet, but his pace is more than enough for a football player to get a pace score of 10. Here we can see his pace compared to a Bugatti:

DRIBBLING

Marca:• Messi 10• Cristiano Ronaldo 8

This is category is one of the most important ones for players of this caliber and type. Ronaldo’s dribbling skills are flashy and produce some great looking moves, his tricky footwork, shimmies, step-overs, flicks and backheels make it easy for him to beat an opponent one-on-one and he can effortlessly breeze past a rival with his pace, but he’s not the kind of dribbler who can glide past five or six defenders in a crowded area, which is something that Messi can. And as mentioned above in the ‘Pace’ category, Messi rightly wins this battle. Here is a video comparison of these two greats:

My verdict:• Messi 9• Cristiano Ronaldo 8

Conclusion:

Now, you must be asking yourself why did I give “just” 9 to Messi since his dribbling skills are obviously outstanding, well because of this guy right here who is better than both of them:

SHOOTING

Marca:• Cristiano Ronaldo 9• Messi 8

Messi is not a forward who depends on the power of his shot. Even when he’s right infront of goal, he prefers to caress the ball past the goalkeeper rather than try to take the poor shot-stopper’s head off. Ronaldo, meanwhile, is always trying to score the outrageous 30-meter piledriver and demonstrating the lethal, brute force of his right foot is part of his game. But shooting doesn’t mean just power. Accuracy is also part of the calculation and both players can be deadly accurate from the 20-yard mark. Ronaldo has been more successful from long range than Messi and therefore deserves a higher score.

My verdict:• Cristiano Ronaldo 10• Messi 8

Many of you will now think that Ronaldo doesn’t deserve 10 and even I’ve been thinking who is better at long range than he is. Of course a few players come to my mind, but most of them have shown their skills only from free kicks, ie. Roberto Carlos and Juninho, while Ronaldo has demonstrated that he doesn’t need the game to be stopped to take a 30-meter shot which will make the crowd go nuts and he does it more often than never.

PASSING

Marca:• Cristiano Ronaldo 9• Messi 9

I don’t consider any of these players to be great passers and therefore I don’t agree with the given scores. I have seen some flashy passes made by Ronaldo and some great through balls by Messi, but they are nowhere near Xavi, Pirlo, Guti when it comes to passing. Many other websites have considered Messi to be better than Ronaldo at passing, but I don’t agree with that since there isn’t really that much of a difference. Both of them prefer dribbling to passing and use passing as a “last resort”.

My verdict:• Cristiano Ronaldo 7• Messi 7

Conclusion:

The scores might seem a little harsh, but I can’t find a single reason to give them a higher score than the one I have given. On the other hand, this guy would have been the best playmaker of the decade if he weren’t so inconsistent. Enjoy some of his best passes:

HEADING

Marca:• Cristiano Ronaldo 9• Messi 7

If the previous category drew some fierce debates, then this one certainly is a no contest. Messi is working to improve on his aerial threat, something that he used to great effect to twist the dagger into the Devils’ heart in last season’s Champions League final against Ronaldo and his former club, Manchester United.But Cristiano is one of the best headers of the ball, at least for a non-conventional target striker. He has the ability to outjump even the tallest of defenders and he is one of those players who seem to defy gravity by simply hanging in the air longer than is humanly possible.

My verdict:• Cristiano Ronaldo 9• Messi 5

Conclusion:

Probably the biggest difference between these two players, if these guys had a heading contest Ronaldo would have won 10/10 without breaking a sweat. Even though his aerial ability is outstanding, he is some way behind Koller, Bierhoff, Toni and other tall strikers and deserves "only" a 9.

LEADERSHIP

Marca:• Cristiano Ronaldo 9• Messi 7

Ronaldo, the one who regularly throws temper tantrums and sulks on the pitch (or used to, at least), boast great leadership attributes? Disagree as much as you want, but the Portuguese is the captain of his national team and he can often be seen rallying his Madrid team-mates.Messi, on the other hand, seems like the kind of player who just wants to have fun with the ball out on the pitch and can’t be bothered concerning himself with leading ten other men. Not to suggest that he’s a sheep, but when you have a player like him, you would certainly want him to focus more on this football than on anything else.

My verdict:• Cristiano Ronaldo 7• Messi 6

Conclusion:

Neither has any leadership abilities, but Ronaldo is a captain of Portugal and has some charisma, while Messi is not the type of player which would push others to do their best.

FREEKICKS & PENALTIES

Marca:• Cristiano Ronaldo 9• Messi 7

The recent research by a physics professor that Ronaldo’s thunderbolts behave like a baseball – something that you just feel may have sparked Marca’s own study of who is the more complete player in the first place – has of course made CR9’s freekicks more glorified and feared than Messi’s.It’s easier to curl the ball over the ball into the back of the net than it is to make it dip, swerve, bend and U-turn. To hit the ball the way Ronaldo does require immense precision in technique and the slightest of miscalculations could send the ball flying towards the team bus out in the stadium parking lot. The two of them are also near flawless when it comes to penalties, not just in terms of executing them but also the psychology and the art behind it. But the €94 million man has made taking freekicks one of his trademarks, while Messi isn’t taking them as often as Ronaldo.

My verdict:• Cristiano Ronaldo 9• Messi 7

Conclusion:

Both of them are great penalty takers, but when it comes to free kicks Ronaldo is a lot better and his special technique is a wonder to see, something like Roberto Carlos trademark free kick taking technique. The best free kick ever:

FINAL ANALYSIS

Marca:

According to Marca Ronaldo is better in 6 categories, 2 categories are tied and Messi is better in 2 categories. Ronaldo has an overall score of 88, while Messi has 80.

My verdict:

My opinion is that much different from Marca’s. The winner of the categories are the same but the overall score is a bit different. Ronaldo has an overall score of 84, while Messi has 75.

Conclusion:

In the final analysis, Ronaldo does emerge as the more complete player, but it’s a much closer contest than you would think. Cristiano and Leo have become the two best players in the world over the past two years or so and their supremacy has been unchallenged.

'CR9' is backing any potential advances from Madrid president Florentino Perez for his former partner in crime, who according to the Portuguese, has the necessary attributes to succeed in the Spanish capital, and La Liga.

"He can be a spectacle and sensation at Real Madrid and has all of the qualities to succeed in La Liga," he said, as quoted by The Mirror.

But the England talisman, who has previously stated he has no desire to play outside of the Premier League, is fiercely loyal to Manchester United, where he is reportedly set to sign a bumper deal in the coming months.

Which means los Blancos' chances of luring the Everton youth product from Old Trafford in the foreseeable future are minuscule to say the least.

The £80 million expensive Portuguese star has previously stuck his former Red Devil colleague's hand up for a move to the Bernabeu.

Bolton Wanderers are lining up an ambitious swoop for Real Madrid play-maker Guti for the January transfer window in a bid to maintain their Premier League status next season.

The Mirror reports that Trotters coach Gary Megson is quietly confident of landing the midfielder, who has been blacked out by los Blancos boss Manuel Pellegrini since a much-publicised their row erupted between the two three months ago.

It is claimed that the former Spanish international will be invited for talks, accompanied with a tour around Bolton's facilities where the two parties will thrash out terms regarding a potential move.

Guti's salary demands means the Premier League outfit would need to fork out approximately £2 million per annum for the player's services, but Megson is confident such a move will yield great long-term results, given their current lowly position in the league.

Two of Guti's former Madrid team-mates have graced the Reebok Stadium in the past - Ivan Campo and the legendary Fernando Hierro - both of whom could prove pivotal in luring the out-of-favour Madrid star to England.

The player has apparently been taking English lessons in preparation of playing out is career in the Premier League.

Real Madrid are already planning their next Galactico swoop, with three names in the pipeline.

According to Marca, their primary objective is Sergio Aguero. Atletico Madrid are likely to need to sell next summer, and Los Merengues will seriously consider paying his €60 million buy-out clause, as they believe he can be a future Ballon D'Or winner.

Should they fail to land the Argentine, Los Blancos will return to the David Villa option. 'El Guaje' was almost signed last summer, until a last minute complication. He would also add to the Spanish contingent at the Bernabeu. The club believe that he is eager to join them, but Valencia have proved hard to negotiate with previously, and his buyout clause is €120 million.

Finally, their third choice is Wayne Rooney. However, this transfer seems highly unlikely, given that Sir Alex Ferguson would be loathe to lose another star to Los Merengues a year after the sale of Ronaldo. Additionally, there are no buy-out clauses in England.

With Ruud Van Nistelrooy's conract set to expire and Raul's future in doubt, one of the above could be Madrid's latest Galactico come next summer.

Veteran Real Madrid midfielder Guti could be set for a surprise switch to Turkish outfit Besiktas, according to AS.

Besiktas coach Mustafa Denizli was in Madrid to discuss the idea of taking Guti on loan for the rest of the season and with Real officials apparently receptive to the idea, all that remains is for Guti to accept the move.

Guti is believed to be ready to end his 25 year association with the club but is understood to favour a move to the English Premier League which would fulfill a long held desire for the 33-year-old midfielder.

He is known to be learning English and AS has identified Manchester United, Manchester City and Blackburn Rovers as potential suitors for a loan deal but none are known to have matched the financial offer of the Turkish outfit.

Guti still has a year and a half to run on his current deal at Madrid but has reportedly told friends that his position with Los Blancos is "unsustainable".

Real Madrid star Kaka has declared himself fit to return to first team action after a month on the sidelines.

The Brazilian playmaker has not featured for Los Blancos since the narrow 1-0 defeat to champions Barcelona at Camp Nou on November 29 but looks set for a possible return to action against Osasuna in Pamplona on January 3.

Los Merengues opted to rest the star after the Barca defeat in an attempt to address the groin injury without needing surgery and it appears to have paid off as the 27-year-old says he is ready to return.

"I am totally fine, I am cured. There is no pain and I hope to work with the group this week and get back in shape physically," he is quoted as saying by AS.

Kaka has been in Brazil during the Christmas period but is set to return this week as Madrid prepare for the trip to Pamplona.

Features: Played wide to the left, very fast and attack-minded, much more offensive than his brother Eulogio. Had great ball skills and excellent game vision.

Matches played: 60 official

Goals scored: 4

Honours: - 1 Copa - 3 Regional Tournaments

Sotero Aranguren was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1894. At the age of five, he and his brother Eulogio, moved to San Sebastian for family reasons. Always with his inseparable brother, he was part of Easo, which also included Alberto Machimbarrena and Castell, who was the architect of the former Chamartin and then, years later, became the first club member. His footballing qualities were quite different from his brothers, who was more defensive. Sotero was very skillful, extremely fast and very attack-minded.

A new family move leads to Madrid, where he joined blancos, which started a big turnover in the clubs successes. He arrived in 1911 along with Comamala, Saura and Bernabeu, with whom the team took a remarkable leap in quality. Together they made the squad balanced and soon reached its zenith in 1917 by winning the Spanish Championship after defeating Arenas Club 2-1. Sotero was an integral part of the team and went on to become one of the first idols of the Real Madrid fans.

Despite his football talent, Sotero gave priority to his studies of Road Engineering. Once he moved in 1918 to Miranda de Ebro, football (still far from professional) went to the background. Just four years later, in 1922, he died in San Sebastian at the age of 28. His death shocked the Spanish football. His loss, coupled with another idol of Real Madrid, Machimbarrena prompted the Club to create a sculpture of the club legend and idol. It was presented in 1925 and initially located in the grounds of the stadium, the statue became a sacred totem for the players of the younger generation.

Throughout Real Madrid's history there have been great football players which have dedicated their lives to football and Real Madrid. Without these legends Real Madrid wouldn’t have become what it is today, the greatest club in the world. Real Madrid and all the fans will forever owe them their gratitude and affection. For that reasons I have decided to create this Hall of Fame which will introduce you to the ones that gave the most to the club.

Real Madrid have once again been linked with a switch for Porto defender Bruno Alves, and a deal could take place in the January transfer window.

Los Blancos have been rocked by the loss of Pepe for the rest of the season as a result of a cruciate ligament injury, and are actively in the hunt for a replacement in order to maintain their aspirations of capturing rival Barcelona’s La Liga and Champions League titles.

Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic has also been linked with a switch to the Bernabeu, but daily newspaper A Bola reports that a swoop for the experienced Portuguese international is more likely.

Alves has a buy-out clause in his contract of €30m, a figure that Real Madrid appear willing to meet, as well as an attractive salary package. A deal was expected to be resurrected in the summer, but the injury to Pepe has cause president Florentino Perez to bring the deal forward.

The 28-year old is thought to be keen on a move, but Porto boss Jesualdo Ferreira wants to offer Alves a new contract to keep him at the club, and that could yet scupper any hope of concluding a deal this winter.

Coach Manuel Pellegrini has used the pairing of Ezequiel Garay and Raul Albiol in their last two matches, but the Chilean also believes that the club will require further cover to compete on all fronts in the months ahead.

Rafael van der Vaart is delighted to be ending 2009 as a Real Madrid starter.

The Dutch playmaker has successfully broke back into the first team as a replacement for the injured Kaka.

Van der Vaart said: "I said I wanted to succeed with this club, the biggest in the world. In this life you always have to fight at all times, not only in football, and now I will not let my guard down."

"I will continue fighting to be an important man on this team."

"I'm playing in my favorite position and where I can show my quality. I feel comfortable playing between the lines. So I can be important for the team."

Royston Drenthe could be set for an exit from the Bernabeu, with Paris St. Germain said to be interested in signing him.

According to Le Parisien, PSG see the Dutchman as an ideal replacement for Jerome Rothen. Their preference is for a move during the January window, but they are willing to return with a summer bid.

Drenthe has only made five league appearances for Madrid this season. After initially winning the confidence of Manuel Pellegrini, he has since been replaced by Alvaro Arbeloa and Marcelo. His performance in the disastrous loss to Alcorcon appears to have sealed his fate at the club.

Since joining Los Merengues in 2007, Drenthe has made 43 league appearances for the club.

Real Madrid are ready to table a £10m bid for Chelsea's versatile stopper Branislav Ivanovic, according to reports from the English tabloids today.

The Sunday Mirror comments that the Serbian has become a primary transfer target for Los Blancos following the loss of Portuguese defender Pepe until next season through injury.

The player himself recently commented that he regards a move to the Santiago Bernabeu to be a "dream", fuelling speculation that Ivanovic may be ready to swap Stamford Bridge for the Spanish capital.

However, one stumbling block to the move will be Blues’ coach Carlo Ancelotti’s desire to hold on to the international, particularly with Jose Bosingwa sidelined for the next two months.

Serbia national team coach Radomir Antic stated that Ivanovic is a key player for his side as they prepare for the World Cup in South Africa in 2010, and that he has the capability to be a key player for Real Madrid, should the move go ahead.

subota, 26. prosinca 2009.

Real Madrid piled more misery upon Real Zaragoza with a devastating performance at the Bernabeu.

Cristiano Ronaldo made his return for Los Merengues, while Rafael Van Der Vaart kept his place. Zaragoza, meanwhile, went with a front three of Angel Lafita, Jermaine Pennant, and Javier Arizmendi.

Zaragoza had dispensed of Marcelina due to their poor previous results, but they got off to the worst possible start at the Bernabeu. Just two minutes in, Marcelo released Gonzalo Higuain down the left, and there was never any doubt about the result, as 'El Pipita' finished with typical aplomb, leaving Lopez Vallejo with no chance.

It was one way traffic, and Van der Vaart came close to extending the lead when he headed Sergio Ramos' cross wide. It was a sighter for the Dutch international, and he made no mistake with his next chance. On 26 minutes, Marcelo chipped a through ball into his path, and he made no mistake, slotting home from a similar angle to the first goal.

Van der Vaart, who looked to have no future at the Bernabeu at the start of the season, has come into his own in recent weeks, and he was clearly determined to make the most of his opportunity. Three minutes later, he found himself on the end of a cross from Sergio Ramos, and a deft touch took it past Vallejo and into the goal for the third.

Zaragoza were being completely outclassed, but they did come close to pulling one back, when Lafita drew a smart save from Casillas with his shot from range. It was a false dawn though, as with ten minutes left in the first half, Higuain added his second. There seemed to be nothing on when the ball was lobbed into the box, but the Argentine did well to control among a crowd, before hooking it expertly over the keeper.

With all the goals flying in, Ronaldo was feeling left out, and he came agonzingly close with a trademark free-kick from a tight angle. That was the last action in a disastrous first half for the visitors, who no doubt were dreading having to re-appear for the second.

Zaragoza came out for the second half hoping to avoid further damage, but Ronaldo had other ideads. Receiving Marcelo's cross from the left, he turned Javier Paredes not once but twice, leaving him on the floor before smashing the ball past Vallejo, for the fifth.

It was a humiliation at the Bernabeu, and with twenty minutes remaining, Karim Benzema, who had only recently come on for Higuain, added the sixth. Having been set up by Van der Vaart, he beat Francisco Pavon before cooly finishing with his left.

Madrid continued to press until the end of the game, with Esteban Granero hitting the woodwork, but despite their hunger for more goals, there were to be no more. Still, it was a commanding performance, that keeps them just two points behind Barca. Zaragoza, meanwhile, remain in the relegation zone.

Player Ratings

REAL MADRID

Casillas: 6 - Had virtually nothing to deal with for the entire match, but was brought into a good save in the first half by Lafita.

Ramos: 7.5 - He had an excellent game as he both defended well and put a number of dangerous crosses into the box for his team-mates. Great assist for the third goal.

Garay: 7 - Set up the fifth goal with an excellent cross, and was untroubled in a defensive sense for the majority of the match.

Albiol: 6.5 - Like Garay, he had very little to deal with in his own half, but what threat there was from the visitors, he coped with well.

Arbeloa: 6.5 - Not quite as active as Ramos on the opposite flank, but offered an option in attack on a number of occasions and kept former Liverpool team-mate Pennant quiet.

M. Diarra: 7 - The more defensive of the central midfield pairing, he sat back and was happy to supply others with the ball.

L. Diarra: 7 - Along with his namesake, he dominated the Zaragoza midfield both technically and physically. Confident in possession, and got forward when he could.

Marcelo: 7.5 - Set up the first goal well and supplied Van der Vaart with a great chipped assist for the second. A far easier night than usual as he was never tested in a defensive sense.

Van der Vaart: 8.5 - The former Ajax man took his first goal brilliantly as he scored a brace that will really help his confidence. He was so comfortable on the ball all evening - a really timely performance.

Ronaldo: 8 - He was allowed to express himself as his side were coasting, often showing great skill on the ball, and scored an excellent goal at the start of the second half.

Higuain: 9 - A really calm finish for the opening goal before he dazzled the Zaragoza defence as he scored a sublime second. Another superb performance from one of the most in-form players in Europe.

Substitutes:

Raul: 5.5 - Didn't really get involved and was a little careless on the ball.

Benzema: 7 - Scored with a great finish for the final goal of the night, and could have scored a couple more.

Granero: 6.5 - He didn't have long on the pitch but did an adequate job during the final 15 minutes and looked to add to the goal tally.

REAL ZARAGOZA

Lopez Vallejo: 4 - He saw six goals fly past him, and while his defence was also to blame for several of them, the 'keeper needed to be on far better form to help his side.

Diogo: 3 - While he is short on match fitness, he was often exposed against Arbeloa and Ronaldo on the left hand side. Looked completely out of his depth.

Ayala: 4.5 - Struggling with his lack of pace against Higuain and is clearly not good enough to compete at the very top level any more.

Pavon: 4 - Demonstrated just why Real Madrid had let him go - far too slow to deal with the hosts' threat. His inadequacies were exemplified when Benzema walked past him for the final goal.

Paredes: 5 - He tried to get forward when possible but really struggled to contain Ramos and it was his clearance that fell to Higuain in the build up to the fourth goal.

Ponzio: 5 - Dominated by the two Diarra's throughout and really struggled to have any kind of impact on the match.

Abel Aguilar: 5 - The 24-year-old struggled from the off against the physical threat of los Blancos and was withdrawn just after the hour mark.

Pennant: 4.5 - He tried switching flanks but had very little luck against either Ramos or Arbeloa. Negligible impact.

Ander Herrera: 5.5 - Tried to get the strikers involved whenever possible and looked to put himself about, but there were few options available to him when he was in possession.

Lafita: 5.5 - The former Deportivo man was the biggest threat that Zaragoza could muster in an attacking sense, and tested Casillas with a rare shot on goal in the first half.

Arizmendi: 4 - Might as well have not bothered coming out onto the pitch for all the difference that he made. Fired one dismal shot off target in the first half and was substituted in the 64th minute.

Substitutes:

Jorge Lopez: 5.5 - Couldn't really change a game that was sewn up well before his introduction, but valiantly tried to salvage some pride for his side.

Ewerthon: 4.5 - Had little more effect than Arizmendi in an attacking sense - not a night for Zaragoza's strikers to shine.

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Historically, Real Madrid is Spain's most successful team, having won 58 domestic trophies, and one of the most recognized football clubs in the world, having won 15 international trophies, making them the second most winning team in Europe and third in the world for official international competition won, all recognized by UEFA and FIFA; also it has the record in La Liga titles (with 31), Supercopa de España titles (with 8) and European Cup/ UEFA Champions League titles (with 9). The club was placed first in the FIFA Clubs of the 20th Century's selection on 23 December 2000. It also received the FIFA Order of Merit in 2004. Added to this, Real is allowed to wear a multiple-winner badge on their shirt during UEFA Champions League matches as they have won more than five European Cups.

The first crest of Real Madrid had a simple design consisting of a decorative interlacing of the three initials of the club, "MCF" for Madrid Club de Fútbol, in dark blue on a white shirt. The first change in the crest occurred in 1908 when the letters adopted a more streamlined form and appeared inside a circle. The next change in the configuration of the crest did not occur until the presidency of Pedro Parages in 1920. At that time, King Alfonso XIII granted the club his royal patronage which came in the form of the title "Real", roughly translated as "Royal". Thus, Alfonso's crown was added to the crest and the club styled itself Real Madrid Club de Fútbol. With the dissolution of the monarchy in 1931, all the royal symbols (the crown on the crest and the title of Real) were eliminated. The crown was replaced by the dark mulberry band of the Region of Castile. In 1941, two years after the end of the Civil War, the crest's "Real Corona", or "Royal Crown", was restored while the mulberry stripe of Castile was retained as well. In addition, the whole crest was made full color, with gold being the most prominent, and the club was again called Real Madrid Club de Fútbol. The most recent modification to the crest occurred in 2001 when the club wanted to better situate itself for the twenty-first century and further standardize its crest. One of the modifications made was changing the mulberry stripe to a more bluish shade.

Real Madrid's traditional home colours are all white, although it initially adopted a blue oblique stripe on the shirt (the design was kept in the club crest); but unlike today, dark blue socks were worn. The striped shirt was replaced by an all-white version, modeled after the shirt worn by Corinthian F.C., in 1902. In the same year, the blue socks were replaced by black ones. By the early 1940s the manager changed the kit again by adding buttons to the shirt and the club's crest on the left breast (which have remained ever since). On 23 November 1947, in a game against Atlético Madrid at the Metropolitano Stadium, Real Madrid became the first Spanish team to wear numbered shirts.

Real's traditional away colours are all black or all purple. The club's kit is currently manufactured by Adidas whose contract extends from 1998. Real Madrid's first shirt sponsor, Zanussi, agreed for the 1982–83, 1983–84 and 1984–85 seasons. Following that, the club was sponsored by Parmalat and Otaysa before a long-term deal was signed with Teka in 1992. In 2001, Real Madrid ended their contract with Teka and for one season used the Realmadrid.com logo to promote the club's website. Then, in 2002, a deal was signed with Siemens Mobile and in 2006, the BenQ Siemens logo appeared on the club's shirt. Real Madrid's current shirt sponsor is bwin.com following the economic problems of BenQ Siemens. A table showing which company was Real Madrid's kit manufacturer and which company's logo appeared on the face of those shirts as the shirt partner during what time period is shown below (note: first year noted in period column represents the playing season that started in that year, while last year noted represents the end of that year's season. For example, "period 1985-1992" represents seasons '85-'86 through '91-'92).

Stadiums

After moving between grounds the team moved to the "Campo de O'Donnell" in 1912, which remained its home ground for eleven years. After this period, the club moved for one year to the Campo de Ciudad Lineal, a small ground with a capacity of 8,000 spectators. After that, Real Madrid moved its home matches to Estadio Chamartín which was inaugurated on 17 May 1923 wi Chujim w dupe h hosted 22,500 spectators, Real Madrid celebrated its first Spanish league title. After some successes, the 1943 elected president Santiago Bernabéu decided that the Estadio Chamartín was not big enough for the ambitions of the club. A new stadium was built and was inaugurated on 14 December 1947. This was the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium as it is known today, although it did not acquire this name until 1955. The first match held on Bernabéu was played between Real Madrid and the Portuguese club Belenenses and won by The Whites with 3–1, the first goal being scored by Sabino Barinaga.

The capacity has changed frequently, peaking at 120,000 after a 1953 expansion. Since then, there have been a number of reductions due to modernizations (the last standing places went away in 1998–99 in response to UEFA regulations which forbids standing at matches in the UEFA competition), countered to some extent by expansions. The last change was an increase of about five thousand to a capacity of 80,354, effected in 2003. A plan to add a retractable roof has been announced.

The Bernabéu has hosted the 1964 European Championship final, the 1982 FIFA World Cup final, the 1957, 1969 and 1980 European Cup finals and is due to host the 2010 Champions League Final. The stadium has its own Madrid Metro station along the 10 line called Santiago Bernabéu. On 14 November 2007, the Bernabéu has been upgraded to Elite Football Stadium status by UEFA.

On 9 May 2006, the Alfredo Di Stéfano Stadium was inaugurated at the City of Madrid where Real Madrid usually trains. The inaugural match was played between Real Madrid and Stade Reims, a rematch of the 1956 European Cup final. Real Madrid won the match 6–1 with goals from Sergio Ramos, Cassano (2), Soldado (2), and Jurado. The venue is now part of the Ciudad Real Madrid, the club's new training facilities located outside Madrid in Valdebebas. The stadium holds 5,000 people and is Real Madrid Castilla's home ground. It is named after former Real footballer Alfredo di Stéfano.

Statistics and records

Raúl holds the record for most Real Madrid appearances, having played 726 first-team matches since 1994. Manuel Sanchis, Jr. comes second, having played 710 times. The record for a goalkeeper is held by Iker Casillas , with 487 appearances. With 127 caps (47 while at the club), Luís Figo of Portugal is Real's most capped international player.

Raúl is Real's all-time top goalscorer, with 321 goals in 726 games (1994–). Four other players have also scored over 200 goals for Real: Alfredo di Stefano (1953–64), Santillana (1971–88), Ferenc Puskás (1958–66) and Hugo Sánchez (1985–92). Sánchez holds the record for the most league goals scored in one season (38 in 1989–90). Di Stéfano's 49 goals in 58 matches was for decades the all-time highest tally in the European Cup, until it was surpassed by Raúl in 2005. The fastest goal in the history of the club (15 seconds) was scored by Brazilian Ronaldo on 3 December 2003 during a league match against Atlético Madrid.

Officially, Real Madrid's highest home attendance is 83,329 for a Copa del Rey match in 2006. The current legal capacity of Estadio Santiago Bernabeu is 80,354. The club's average attendance in 2007–08 season was 76,234, the highest in European Leagues. Real have also set records in Spanish football, most notably the most domestic titles (31 as of 2007–08) and the most seasons won in a row (5, during 1960–65 and 1985–90). With 121 matches (from 17 February 1957 to 7 March 1965), the club holds the record for longest unbeaten run at home in La Liga.

The "Whites" also hold the record for winning the UEFA Champions League nine times and for the most semi-final appearances (21). Raúl González is the all-time UEFA Champions League top scorer, with 66 goals. The team has the record number of consecutive participation in the European Cup with 15, from 1955–56 to 1969–70.

In June 2009, the club broke its own record for the highest transfer fee ever paid in the history of football by agreeing to pay Manchester United €96 million ($131.5 million, £80 million) for the services of Cristiano Ronaldo. The fee of €76 million (over $100 million, £45.8 million) for Zinedine Zidane's transfer from Juventus to Real Madrid in 2001 was the previous highest transfer fee ever paid. In June 2009, Real Madrid also agreed to buy Kaká from AC Milan for a fee that broke the previous record in pounds sterling. The club's record sale came on 1 September 2008, when they sold Robinho to Manchester City for €42 million (£32.5 million).

Famous Fans

A number of famous personalities have professed their passion for Real Madrid CF. These include:

About Real Madrid C.F.

Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid (and in Spain, within an adequate context, simply as el Madrid), is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. It is the most successful team in Spanish football and was voted by FIFA as the most successful club of the 20th century, having won a record thirty-one La Liga titles, seventeen Spanish Cups, a record nine European Cups and two UEFA Cups. Real was a founding member of FIFA and the now-defunct G–14 group of Europe's leading football clubs as well as its replacement, the European Club Association. The word "Real" in the club's name is the Spanish term for "Royal", and was added in 1920 together with the royal crown in the emblem.

Founded in 1902, Real Madrid has since spent all of its history in the top flight of Spanish football. In the 1940s, the club, the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium and the Ciudad Deportiva were rebuilt following the Spanish Civil War. The club established itself as a major force in both Spanish and European football during the 1950s. In the 1980s, the club had one of the best teams in Spain and Europe (known as La Quinta del Buitre), winning two UEFA Cups, five Spanish championships in a row, one Spanish cup and three Spanish Super Cups.

The team traditional home colours are all white, although it initially adopted a blue oblique stripe on the shirt. Its crest has been changed several times in attempts to modernise or re-brand; the current crest is a modified version of the one first adopted in the 1920s. Real's home ground is the 80,354-person-capacity Santiago Bernabéu football stadium in downtown Madrid, where it has played since 1947.

Real Madrid holds long-standing rivalries with some other clubs; the most notable of these is with FC Barcelona, the two teams regularly contest in El Clásico. Unlike most European football clubs, Real Madrid's members (socios) have owned and operated the club since its inception. The club is the world's richest football club (€351m) in terms of revenue and the second most valuable (worth over €950m as of 2008).

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